Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation

Other Establishments - Experimental and Administrative

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The Testing Squadron at Martlesham Heath was renamed Aeroplane Experimental Station on 16 October 1917 and this in turn was renamed the Aeroplane Experimental Establishment on 16 March 1920.  Initially in No 3 Group it was transferred to No 1 Group on 31 August 1921, to Coastal Area on 1 February 1922 and finally to Inland Area on 1 April 1923.  It was renamed Aeroplane and Armament Experimental Establishment on 24 March 1924.

31 May 1919       Sqn Ldr A Sheckleton

 7 Jan 1921          Sqn Ldr A C Maund

 1 Mar 1922        Wg Cdr N J Gill

Listings of officers serving in this establishment (1920-1939) are available in the Members' Area

Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment

This was formed on 24 March 1924 by renaming the Aeroplane Experimental Establishment.  On 14 January 1926 it was organised into No 15 Squadron for Armament testing and No 22 Squadron for Performance and Handling.  No 22 Squadron disbanded on 1 May 1934, being replaced by the Armament Testing Sqn and Performance Testing Squadron, with No 15 Squadron leaving on 1 June 1934.

Air Ministry Order A280/35 of 14 November 1935 was issued to define the administrative responsibility between the Air Ministry, the AOC, Inland Area, and the AOC, Coastal Area, which was as follows: -

1. The Air Ministry is responsible for the following services and will deal direct in respect of them with the commanding officers: -

   1. (a) All work and flying in connection with experiments and development.

   2. Allotment of aircraft, airframes and aero-engines.

   3. Supply of technical non-standard stores.

   4. Movement, strike-off and disposal of airframes, aero-engines and non-standard stores.

   5. Supply of technical publications required for experimental work.

   6. Posting and attachment of officers and airman pilots.

   7. All matters concerning civilian personnel.

2. All other services not specified in sub-para. (i) will be the responsibility of the appropriate command headquarters subject to the following procedure in regard to the undermentioned items

   1. Works and buildings and telephones - The commanding officers will obtain approval from the Air Ministry before forwarding any proposals relating to works and buildings or telephone services that arise in connection with experimental work.

   2. Establishments - Recommendations for alterations to establishments will be submitted by the commanding officers, through command headquarters, to the Air Ministry.

   3. Equipment - The commanding officers are responsible to the command headquarters for all stores accounting, and for the custody, preservation, record, survey, and disposal of all equipment (except as provided in sub-para. (i) (d)). Non-standard stores no longer required as such will be surveyed by the boards of survey for standard stores, on which the command headquarters are represented.  Such non-standard stores may be recommended to be used in the service or sold in their whole state, in preference to reduction to produce.

   4. Posting and attachment of airmen, other than airman pilots, will be arranged by the Officer-in-charge, Record Office, Royal Air Force, Ruislip;  Any points of difficulty arising from the postings of technical RAF personnel from the establishments will be referred to the Air Ministry.

Station defence scheme in an emergency is the responsibility of the command headquarters concerned.

Its location at Martlesham Heath made it vulnerable to attack so on 9 September 1939 it was moved to Boscombe Down in No 23 Group.  On 14 September 1950 it absorbed the Airborne Forces Experimental Establishment and on 1 November 1955 administrative control was transferred from HQ Maintenance Command to HQ Home Command through No 61 Group.  Administrative control was transferred back to HQ Maintenance Command on 15 January 1959.

On 1 November 1959 was redesignated RAF Unit (Ministry of Aviation) Boscombe Down, then on 1 April 1992 the Aircraft and Armament Evaluation Establishment.  A & A E E became part of the Defence Test and Evaluation Organisation in 1993 and then the Defence and Evaluation Research Agency in 1995, with the Commandant's post being redesignated Air Commodore Test and Evaluation (Boscombe Down).

Listings of officers serving in this establishment (1920-1939) are available in the Members' Area

24 Mar 1924              Wg Cdr N J Gill

25 Sep 1924              Wg Cdr H Blackburn

23 Nov 1928:             Wg Cdr V O Rees

17 Sep 1933:              Gp Capt A C Maund

18 Jan 1937:               Gp Capt H G Smart

25 Nov 1938:             Gp Capt B McEntegart

xx xxx 1940                A/Cdre R S Sorley

xx xxx 1942                A/Cdre R B Mansell

xx xxx 1943

xx Jul 1944                 A/Cdre J N Boothman

xx xxx 1945                A/Cdre H P Fraser

xx xxx 1946                A/Cdre C B R Pelly  

xx Jul 1948                 A/Cdre H L Patch

xx xxx 1950                A/Cdre A W B McDonald

xx xxx 1953?              A/Cdre A H Wheeler 

xx xxx 1955                A/Cdre R A R Rae

xx xxx 1957                A/Cdre A E Clouston

xx xxx 1960                A/Cdre J F Roulston

xx xxx 1964                A/Cdre F R Bird

xx xxx 1968             

xx xxx 1970                A/Cdre R L Topp

12 Aug 1972              A/Cdre G C Cairns

12 Oct 1974               A/Cdre A D Dick

 6 Sep 1975                A/Cdre H A Merriman           

26 Mar 1977              A/Cdre B Brownlow

22 Dec 1979              A/Cdre R J Spiers

10 Sep 1983              A/Cdre G C Williams

20 Dec 1985              A/Cdre P D L Gover

xx xxx 1988                A/Cdre D L Bywater

xx xxx 1992

xx xxx 1994                A/Cdre C J Cruickshanks?

23 Sep 1996               A/Cdre N R Wood

Marine Aircraft Experimental Station/Establishment

The Marine Aircraft Experimental Station was formed in October 1918 at the Isle of Grain to evaluate marine aircraft.  On 16 March 1920 it was redesignated Marine and Armament Experimental Establishment (Home) but on 1 March 1924 this was shortened to Marine Aircraft Experimental Establishment and on 16 June it moved to Felixstowe.  Originally under the control of Coastal Area it was transferred to the newly formed Coastal Command on 1 May 1936 and then to No 16 Group on 1 January 1937.   As Felixstowe was considered to be too close to likely areas of enemy activity it was moved to Helensburgh on 21 September 1939, returning to Felixstowe on 1 August 1945.  Control was transferred to No 19 Group on 11 August 1948 and the RAF element was disbanded on 31 March 1953 but it continued as a civilian manned unit finally disbanding in August 1954.

6 Oct 1918               Lt Col/Wg Cdr H R Busteed

15 Nov 1921            Wg Cdr T R Cave-Browne-Cave

10 Sep 1923             Wg Cdr C E H Rathborne

3 Aug 1925               Wg Cdr R B Maycock

16 Apr 1928             Wg Cdr G R Bromet

31 Jan 1931              Wg Cdr/Gp Capt A J Miley

13 Aug 1936             Gp Capt E J P Burling

Listings of officers serving in this establishment (1920-1939) are available in the Members' Area

Central Fighter Establishment 

This was formed in No 12 Group at Tangmere on 4 September 1945 as a nucleus, it moved to Wittering, where it was formally opened on 1 October 1944.  It initially absorbed the Fighter Leaders School at Milfield, the Fighter Interception Unit at Ford and the Air Fighting Development Unit, which formed a Day Fighter Development Wing at Milfield and a Night Fighter Development Wing at Ford.  On 27 November 1944 the Day Fighter Development Wing moved to Wittering then to Tangmere on 15 January 1945, except for the Air Fighting Development Squadron.  The whole CFE was located at Tangmere on 27 February 1945, under the control of No 11 Group.  On 20 March the Air Support Development Squadron of the Day Fighter Development Wing was renamed Fighter Support Development Squadron, and the Night Fighter Training Squadron of the Night Fighter Development Wing was renamed Night Fighter Leaders' School.

The Establishment moved to West Raynham on 1  October, with the Night Fighter Wing and Day Fighter Wing being re-established on 14 July 1946, the former comprising the Night Fighter Leaders' School and Fighter Interception Development Squadron, whilst the latter comprising the Day Fighter Leaders School, Air Fighter Development Squadron and Air Fighter Support Development Squadron.  By mid-1956 the Establishment had been re-organised into No 122 (Reserve) Squadron (DFLS & FCIRS) and No.176 (Reserve) Squadron (AWDS).  In October 1957 it absorbed the Fighter Weapons School and on 15 March 1958 the Fighter Combat School was formed comprising the Day Fighter Combat Squadron (ex Day Fighter Leaders School) and All Weather Fighter Combat School (ex All Weather Fighter Leaders School).  On 12 October 1962 it moved to Binbrook, and was transferred to No 11 (Northern) Sector on 1 April 1963.  It disbanded on 1 February 1966.

25 Sep 1945                 A/Cdre R L R Atcherley,

xx xxx 1945                  ?

xx xxx 1948                  A/Cdre D F W Atcherley.

xx xxx 1950:                 A/Cdre W J Crisham.

xx xxx 1953                  A/Cdre G D Stephenson.

10 Dec 1954                A/Cdre J Grandy.

xx xxx 1957                  A/Cdre E L Colbeck-Welch.

xx xxx 1958                  A/Cdre H I Edwards.

xx xxx 1964                  A/Cdre E W Tacon

| Aircraft and Marking |

Central Bomber Establishment 

This was formed at Feltwell in No 3 Group on 28 September 1945, moving to Marham on 1 February 1946, then to Lindholme on 14 April 1949, where it was transferred to No 1 Group.  It disbanded on 21 December 1949.

xx xxx 1945                   A/Cdre G R C Spencer

xx xxx 1947                   A/Cdre S O Bufton.

xx xxx 1947                   A/Cdre W E Staton.

xx xxx 1949                   A/Cdre D H F Barnett.

Central Photographic Establishment 

This was formed at Fifield House, Benson on the disbandment of No.106 (PR) Group on 15 August 1946.  It moved to Beggarsbush House, Benson on 5 July 1948 and disbanded on 1 March 1950 

 7 Oct 1946                A/Cdre G E Nicholetts

24 Nov 1948               A/Cdre S N Webster

Central Reconnaissance Establishment 

This was formed at Brampton on 12 January 1957 within No 3 Group to control UK-based PR squadrons, which were based at nearby RAF Wyton.  It was transferred to the direct control of HQ Bomber Command on 1 April 1963, and disbanded on 1 October 1970.  

12 Jan 1957                A/Cdre  D S Radford

 1 Jan 1959                 A/Cdre E G Jones

17 Nov 1967              A/Cdre K C M Giddings

 3 Sep 1969                A/Cdre D J Furner

Central Signals Establishment 

This was formed in No 90 Group at Watton on 1 September 1946 from the Radio Warfare Establishment and Signals Flying Unit, its policy being: -

1. To provide requisite flying facilities for: -

   1. The calibration and air testing of ground Radar and Radio Navigational Aids ground systems in the UK and Overseas where specifically directed.

   2. Radio counter measures and participation in air exercises

   3. Tactical 'Y'  and Radio noise investigation

   4. The application of signals equipment and techniques developed by other establishment as directed.

    

2. The ab initio training of operating crews for all GCA installations.

3. The technical training of specialist RCM and Tactical 'Y' personnel.

4. Assuring the RCM and Tactical Signals Intelligence techniques are kept abreast of future radio development.

5. Keeping Air Staff at Commands informed of the progress of RCM and Tactical Signals Intelligence development and their value as offensive and defensive weapons.

6. The Research and Development of prototype RCM and Tactical Signals Intelligence equipment.

7. Monitoring of certain RAF Transmissions.

The Flying Wing was located at Shepherds Grove until at least October 1948.  On 1 March 1947 it was reorganised into Development Squadron with 'A' Flight (Lancasters) and 'B' Flight (Mosquitos) and a Calibration Squadron with 'C' Flight (Lancasters), 'D' Flight (Ansons) and 'E' Flight (Mosquitos).  These two squadrons were based at Shepherds Grove, whilst 'F' Flight remained at Watton for communications and GCA work with Oxfords and Proctors.  A 'Specials Operators' course was established on 9 September 1949 of 9 weeks duration for up to 10 trainees to be run as and when the need arose to fill established posts.

On 15 July 1951 the Calibration Squadron was redesignated No 192 Squadron and on 1 January 1952, it became responsible for parenting the Naval Air Radio Warfare Unit, with No 751 NAS moving to Watton the same day as part of the NARWU.

On 1 August 1952 'N' & 'R' Calibration Squadrons became Nos 116 and 527 Squadrons.  By this time the Development Squadron was equipped with Canberras, Varsities and Lincolns.

By October 1957 consisted of 'A' Flight (Meteors and Canberras), 'B' Flight (Lincolns) and 'C' Flight (Varsities).  In early 1958 No 192 Squadron received Comets to replace their Washingtons and on 21 August 1958 the three numbered squadrons were redesignated 116 to 115, 192 to 51 and 527 to 245, with Nos 115 and 245 moving to Tangmere on 25 September, the Development Squadron and No 51 Squadron remaining at Watton. 

A Meteorological Experimental Unit arrived on 8 December 1958 and by February 1959 the Development Squadron had been reduced to just 'A' Flight with Meteors, Canberras and Varsities and 'B' Flight with Lincolns.  The Establishment finally disbanded on 16 July 1965, with The Research Wing and the civilian element of the Installation Squadron becoming the Signals Command Air Radio Laboratories, whilst the training and service elements of Installation Squadron became the Electronic Warfare Support Wing).